Shade roller



W. DAZLEY SHADE ROLLER Filed July 14 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. l, 1933.

W. DAZLEY Aug. 1, 1933.

SHADE ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 14, 1932 ffy. /a

CAD

YPatatas Aula. 1, i933 SHADE RLLER.

William lazley, Fairfield, Conn., assigner to .William 1F. Smith and Charles F. Schmelz, both of Bridgeport, Conn.

Application July 1d, 1932. Serial No. 622,425

16 Claims.

This invention relates vto shade rollers, and more 'particularly to that mechanism or device which affects the "operation of such rollers in opposite directions, for raising or lowering the fixture-unit adapted to be permanently secured to the window-casing andA to receive one (left) end o1 the roller.

' The linvention has for its principal object the provision of an improved fixture of this character whereby the rotation of the' roller in one direction (to lower the'shade) may be frictionally resisted; ,'While, when said sl'iade roller is rotated in the opposite direction (to rraise the shade), this frictional resistance in the fixture is automatically and materially relieved.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 shows a shade roller in its vsupporting fixtures attached. to the inner or opposite faces of a window-casing. is a y2O side-'face view of the roller-operating fixture.

Fig. 3 is section on line S, 3 of Figs. 2 and 4, Fig. 4 is avertical central section on line e, e of' Fig. 3, Figs; 5 to 7 inclusive illustrate `a modification, Fig. 5 being a side-face, view similar to Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is asection on line 6 of Fig. 7, Fig. 'l is a lateral section on line 7,7 of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 to 1l inclusive showv another modification of the iiXture, in fact the preferred form thereof, Fig. 8 being a rear-:elevationthereof, Fig. 9 is a iront lview of the same, Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section thereof, and Fig. 11 is a section on line 11,11 of Fig; l0. y

In brief: the present device is an improved mechanism wherebyl a shade roller coupled thereto will, iirstly; be held irictionally against being rotated by the weight of the down-hanging portion of the shade fabric and its appurtenances, and which will, secondly, relieve this friction when a cord, attached to the pulley orr l@ spool of the device, is pulled to rotate the roller in the opposite direction (to raise the shade), and the operators hand-pull will, therefore, have to overcome only the down-hanging weight of friction mentioned. l `Referring tothe drawings: the shade roller R consists substantially of a plain 'cylindrical body to which the upper end of the shade-material S may be secured as usual, by tacla'staples, or otherwise. At its right-hand end this roller is provided with the usual plain trunnion-pin 10, which is adapted to be dropped into the bearing-bracket il secured tothe casing and has a slot 12 to permit the insertion of the trunnion pin thereinto,v` or its removal therefrom.

shade,'and which, per se, constitutes a complete the shade, instead of both :Y this weight plus the `that the base contours of both, the case and the The other or left-hand end of the roller R.l is provided with a fixed tab-pinl 13, Whose outer end is preferably rectangular in cross-section to be entered into or removed from a similarlyshaped perforation 14 formed in the face of the pulley-unit whereby the roller is rotatively controlled in either direction, viz: when the shade is being pulled down by hand, or when the pulley is reversely rotated by a cord, to raise the shade. In its preferred construction, the simplest form, the pulley-unit consists of a pair of 4similar flanges 15a, 15b, whose hub-portions are press- 'fitted ontoa central cup-shaped shell 15o, having the perforation 14 above referred to. In Fig. 3 it will be noticed that the bottom of the shell 15C projects a short distance beyond the flange-member 15a, so that the pulley-unit may be rotatively supported in a ring-bearing 16 formed on the face plate 17 of a box-like case, indicated in a general Way by 18 and having one or more side openings 19 in the annular portion 20 which is provided lwith attaching-wings 21 for securing the case to the window-casing. n

inasmuch as the diameters of the flanges 15a, 15b are such as to have a loose-running fit on the inner surface oi the case-portion 20, the pulley-unit, as a whole, is efficiently supported for rotation in the case without undue friction between the contacting surfaces, the entire organiaaton of case and pulley becoming stabilized by a cover-plate 22 which confines the pulley in the case and is preferably attached to the case-wings 21 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, where the wings 21 are draw-punched rearwardly, as at 23, to form a projection adapted to be passed through a perforation 24 in the coverplate 22, and then to be upset or riveted-'over as at 25, thus permanently sealing the case and making the latter a complete unitary device possessing all the essentials of efficiency and rigidity. As the draw-punched projections 23 are, perforce, hollow similar to eyelets, they may be used for the insertion of screws or nails to secure the device 'to the window-casing, it being understood cover plate, coincide in outline.

As above stated, the pulley or spool is subject to being rotated in one direction, as arrow a, by the shade roller R, when the shade ony thelatter is being pulled down, during which movement a certain frictional resistance is brought to bear upon the pulley-rotation. In the present instance this resistance or brake-effect is caused by a brake-band 30 circularly formed of spring steel (similar to that of a clock-spring) and so shaped that, when it naturally expands, it ts closely against the inner surface of the hubshell o, the latter, therefore, functioning asa lbrake drum rotatable around the brake-band which has one end bent, as at 31, to serve as a hook or anchor on a slotted projection 32 formedby an inwardly-bent portion of the cover-plate, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The other end of the brake band is free to comeand-go so that, when the pulley is rotated inthe direction of arrow a, the free end 31a will' bedragged along, causing the brake band to closely contact with the drum-surface, and, therefore causing considerable frictional engagement be-Y tween the brake band and thisinner surface', the strength of such resistance depending upon the temper and size of the band. v

On the other hand, when the pulley. is rotated in the reverse direction, as arrow l), the friction between the brake-band and the drum is automatically relieved and practically nullified a feature which is desirable when the pulley is thusoperated by a cord manipulated by the hand of an operatorwhose pull need only be suiicient to roll-up the clown-hangingy portion of the shade.

This cord may be attached to the pulley, even -after the entire unit is in positionv on the window-casing, the flange 15a having a perforation which may be readily brought in to register with a threading-hole 36 provided in the sideface of the case, and more particularly in theV b ead of an annular channel 37, so thatthe end of a length of cord C may be passed through the registered perforations 35, 36 from the outside of the case, the required length of cord be cut off, and the cut-off end knotted, as at 37, tohold that cord-end on the pulley-flange, the beaded channel being provided to aiordroom for the free revolutions of the knot (with the pulley) and also to guard the same against damage.

The` free length of cord passes through one of the side-openings 19 of the case and maybe provided at s lower end with a ring or tassel (not shown) ,Y as desired. Y, y

Attention is called to the fact that, in the organization of the above-described mechanism, the brake-portion thereof is located within the longitudinal space of the pulley-unit, and that,

for that reason, the diameter of the brake-drum is comparatively small, as compared with the outside diameter of the pulley-anges. In some instances of practical use this condition is a matter of necessity, on account of meeting the commercial demand for the thin model device to be used as inside iture on the window casing, and

practice has fully demonstrated that the eifrefficiency, without however changing the principleor" operation. 4Such a modicationhas been clearly shown` in Figs. 5 to '7 incl., in which the case 12 0 is shown sulicientlyv deep or thick to permit the pulley-cord space and the brakefband space to be placed side by side. (See Fig. 6.)

In this instance the pulley-flangel 15b and hubshell 15c may remain the same as those described above; Whle the pulley-flange 15a is now replaced by another (150a) having an annular flange 151 which externally is in running contact or support with the interior of the case 120 and' therefore'stabilizes the position of the pulley within the case, offering, as it does, a substantial bearing surface between the two parts.

. On the other hand, the central bearing of the iirst device, Viz: the hub-shell 15C provided in the case-flange 16 is still maintained in the present instance, only in modied form, the shell 1`5`c-bein`g supported rotatively on the outside face ofa'hubv 123 formed on the cover-plate 122 and affording a lon'g' and substantial bearing for the partsn.

Now, when the brake-band is to be considered, We; find that, owing to the large inside diameter of the pulley-flange 151, the curl of the band 130 is also considerably larger than that of' the brake-band 30, so that the 'self-conforming tendency of the band 130 is very much enhanced; and smoother action in either direction o f'rota'tion will naturally'result, the bandv 13'0 requiringalso less width than the bandm30 and yet'ha'ving greater frictional resistance.

While in the other construction, the brakeband/ 30'was` anchored with one end on the projection A32 formedon the cover plate, the present construction anchors the brake-band on the proiect'ion 132v lanced" in the face-platev 1'70 of the case 120. lIn either case, the brake-band'is anchored on the case-portion of the device, directly or indirectly; While'it frictionally engages the pulley-unit, either by contact with one of the flanges, or with the hub-shell.

While there is no reason why the ring-flange bearing of the rst construction should not be maintained in the second construction, the hubbearing 123 of the latter appears more mechanically eiiicient, and, therefore, the side face 170 o f the case may be cut away'enti'rely to clear the path of the knot37 which thus remains in plain sight at all times.

Furthermore, in View of the fact that the case openings 1 9V are provided in duplicate, the pulleycord may be led to rotate the-pulley eitherin one directionV or in the other, depending upon the `hang of the shade on the roller and the right-orleft position of the brake-band whose reversibility in its anchorage is obvious.y Upon due reiiection, it will be found that altho the two constructions described are modifications of each other only, without in any way altering the essential features or the principle of operation, yet both forms are susceptible of being combined in the same device, in which case the second construction of the case, viz: 120, would be the one used, the pulley-unit would also be`of that type, 151, but Vhaving two frictional brakeband resistances, viz: the rim-nange band 130, as well as the hub-shell band 30, the latter being anchored on the cover plate 22 which now would replace that shown in Fig. 6. Such combination ofv brake-bands works out very advantageously lin cases where abnormally-long shades are to be used and considerable weight has to be compensated for.

In Figs. 8 to 1l inclusive, I have illustrated another modification which may be considered as themost desirable type because it combines the best mechanical elements of both of the other two constructions, and also permits a combination of both, the hub-brake of construction No. 1

, 4"i,e2`o`,9: `,v

with the rim-brake of construction No. 2, all in the same device, the organization now being such that, according to requirements, either the hubbrake or the rim-brake may be used independently of each other, or both may be used atv the same time; therefore making this device adapted for three different resistances, viz: light, medium and strong, without in any way-changing any of the parts except the brake-bands.

In this instance, the hub-shell 15e of the pulley is journaled at one end in the case-flange 16 (as in No. l), while at its other end it is journaled on a hub 223 similar to but shorter than the hub 123 of No. 2 (see Fig. 6), the hub 223 being formed by cupping the cover plate 222, so that a portion of the cup-bottom may be lanced and bent outward to form the anchorage 233 for the hubbrake band 230, the latter being in frictional contact with the interior surface of the pulley-hubshell, as before.

From the above, it will be understood that in this (No. 3) construction the pulley-shell 230 is journaled at both ends, viz: at its outer end within the ring bearing 16, of the case 220, and at its other end-on the outside of the plate-hub 223. Now, as both (the case and cover plate) are in axial alinement, it follows that the pulley is well journaled in its position, andr it is essentially immaterial whether or not the pulley-flanges have any peripheral bearing-contact with the interior of the case 220 or not.

Substantially as in No. 2, (Fig. 6), the outer pulley-ange has the outwardly-extending an- Y nular flange 251 whose inner surface is frictionally engaged by the brake-band 330 which, in the present instance shown, consists of a spring-wire, one end (331) of which is bent at right angle to the plane of the wire-curl, and entered into a perforation 332 in the front plate ofthe case and thus becomes anchored at that point.

Inasmuch as the case-plate2'70l1as the ringbearing 16, this plate cannot now be entirely cut out as is the plate 170 of No. 2, so that the cordknot 37 will now travel with the pulley inthe confined space formed between the side and annular flange of the outer pulley-flange and the inner face of the case-plate, a threading hole 36 being provided in the case-plate, as in No. l.

In recapitulation of the above, it may be emphasized: that this No. 3 construction constitutes the most desirable form of the device because it possesses a certain flexibility as to distribution or variation in frictional resistance which cannot be attained in either of the other two (Nos. l and 2) constructions. In other words: With the same component parts (case, pulley, cover-plate) of the No. 3 device, and two brake-bands (for hub and rim of the pulley respectively) I am enabled to obtain three different brake-resistances, viz: 1, for light duty, by employing the hub-brake band only, for small and light-weight shades. 2, for medium duty, adapted for medium sizes and weights of shades, by using the rim brake-band only; and 3, for eXtra large sizes and weights of shades, by using both brake-bands simultaneously.

Analytically, the preferred form of the device comprises one case, one pulley-unit, two brakebands, and cover-plate, a total of four parts (besides a length of raising-cord), which may be easily and quickly assembled into one permanent fixture possessing simplicity, stability, strength and efficiency in question.

The assembling may best be performed as follows:

tion of the pulley in the case may be reversed,

'anchored at one end on said case and having its 1. Place the large brake-band into its place within the pulley-ange, the anchoring-end projecting outward therefrom.

2. Place the pulley-unit into the case, the anchoring-end of the brake-band'entering the' perforationin the case-plate.

3. Place` the small brake-band into the hubshell of the pulley.

4. Place the slot of the anchor-tab of the cover plateover and engaging the anchor end of the small brake band vand bring the eyelet-projections of the case-wings into register with-'and through the perforations in the `wings of the cover-plate, and

5. Head or rivet these projections to perma-y nently unitev these parts, thus forming the complete xture. f i

By turning the pulley within the case suflciently to bring the cord-perforation of the pulley-flange and the threading-hole in the case plate into register, the cord may be threaded from the outside of the case and the threaded-in end is then pulled-through until the cord-knot stops it, whereupon the cord may be cut to proper length and a tassel or similar hand-hold may be 1 attached to the cord-end to keep the cordtaut and possibly assist in counterbalancing the shadeweight. f

It should, of course, be understood that, as far as the present invention is concerned, the posiend-for-end, in which instance the large or rimbrake band will naturally be anchored on the plate 222, instead of on the side face plate 270.

Other changes may be made in thev particular 1, construction as well as in the-general organization of the several component parts of the device, especially in the reversal in location ofthe latter, without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a case, a pulley adapted to have one end of the shade roller coupled thereto, a brake-band freeportion frictionally engaging said pulley, and

' a plate secured to said case and retaining said vpulley within the same.

2. A device of the character described compriing a case, having in its side-face a ring-bearing a pulley having a hub journaled at one end in said ring-bearing and comprisinga pair of spaced flanges, one of said anges havingy a laterally projecting annular flange, and a brake-band anchored at one end on said case and havingits free portion frictionally engaging'the inner surface of said annular ange.

, 3. -A device of the characterdescribed comprising a support-case having in its side-face a ringbearing, a pulley having a hub journaledat one end therein, a -cover-plate having a hub cooperative with said case-bearing for rotatably supporting said pulley in the case, and 'a brake-band anchored at one end on one -of' said' support-M members and having its free portion frictionally"1 engaging said pulley.

4. A device of the character described comprising a case having in its side face a ring-bearing, a pulley having a hub journaled at one end therein, a cover-plate having a hub, cooperative with said case-hub for rotatably supporting said pulr ley in the case-bearing, and a pair of brake-bands, each being anchored at one of its ends, and each pulley for resisting its rotationin one direction,

` 5. A device of;` the character described comprisingY acasechaving in yits side-face-av ringbearing, a pulley comprising .a' -pairof vspaced flanges and a hub-shell journaled vatone end in said bearing, .a :cover-plate; secured f to saidcase for retaining said"pulley:within thesame, and having aportion'projecting intoQsaid--shell for anchoring one end of 'a brake-band thereon.

6. A device of the characterv described comprising a box-like case, apulley rotatably supported in said case'and lcomprising a pair `of l vwithin ther same, and -a brake-band-anchoredat one end on said cover-plate-and having itsgfree endr frictionally engaging they inner surface-of saidhub-she'll.' I f Y 8. A device of the character described comprising a box-like case, a pulley rotatablysupported therein and.` comprising a :hub-shell f and a-pair of #spaced flanges, one of said angesh'aving Va laterally-projecting 'annular tflange, a cover-plate rfor rotatably supporting said pulley'arrd' secured V9. "A device of the character described comprisingabox-'like case, a pulley rotatably/:supported therein and comprising a pair of spaced a'ng'es,

` one of said flanges having a laterally projecting annular ange, and a hub-shell adapted to have one end of the shade roller coupled theretoya cover-plate secured to said casefand'retaining said pulley within the same; and a brake-band anchored at one end to said cover-plateand'having its free portion' frictionally v engaging said hub-shell for resisting the rotation'of 'said pulley in one direction. 1'

10. A device of the character described comprising a box-like case, a pulley rotatably' supported therein andcomprising a pair of spacedfilanges, one of saidanges having a laterally-projecting annular flange, and a hub-shell adapted to have one end of the shade rollercoupled thereto; a cover-plate secured to said case and retaining said pulley within the same; a brake-band anchored at one endy to said cover-plate and having its free portion frictionally engaging-said hub-shell, and another brake-band anchoredv at oneiend on said case and having its free portion fridtion'alin one direction.

11. AV device of the character described comprisingi a stationary member, a pulley having a hub adapted to have one end of the shade roller coupled theretoand comprising a pair o f spaced anges 4to form a cord-space, one of said flanges having a laterally-projecting*annular iiange; and a; pair kof llirake-bands, each being anchored at one of its ends, and each having its free end frictionallyengaging said pulley for resisting its rotation in one direction.

12; A device of the character described comprising a stationary member; a pulley adapted to havejone end of a. shade roller coupled thereto andV comprising apair of spaced iianges, one of said flanges ,having a laterally-projecting annu-Y lar flange;l and abrake-band anchored at one end on said stationary member and'having its free portion frictionally engaging said annular flange, for resisting its rotation in one direction.

13. A device of the character described com-.

prising a box-like case; a pulley rotatably supported Within and on said case and comprising a pair of spaced flanges to form a cord-space and adapted to have one end of a shade roller coupled thereto; a brake-bandV anchored at one end on the side-face of said case and having its free -portionfrictionally engaging said pulley, and a cord secured at :one end to one of the pulleyflanges for rotating said pulley in the brake-relieving direction. v n l y 14. A device of the character described comprising abox-like case, a pulley'rotatably supported-Within and on said case and comprising a pair of spaced flanges-to form a cord-space and adapted tohave one end of a shade-roller coupled Vthereto'gwa brake-band anchored at one end on Vthe;side-face of said-case and having its free portionfri'ctionally engaging said pulley; and a cordsecured at one end vto one of the pulley flangesV for rotating said pulley in the brake-relieving direction, said pulley being lrotatable against then-frictional resistance of said brakeybanclby a down-pull onthe shade.

-15j A-deviceof the character described comprising aj box-like case open Aat one side; a pulley adapted-to have one. endvof the shade-roller coupledtherto and rotatably supported in said case; a brake-band anchored at one end and having its lfree .end frictionallyengaging said pulley; and

means on the case'projecting over the uncovered side-face ofthe pulleyvfor retaining the latter within saidcase. y'

16. Adevice-of the-character described comprisingna box-like case open at one side;` a pulley adapted tohave one end of the shade-roller cou.- pled thereto and rotatably-supported in said case; a .brake-bandanchored atone end and having its `free end -frictionall-y engaging. said pulley; and means' on saidopen Vcase-side for closing the open ,side of said casetoretainsaid pulley against lateral displacementwithin the-same. n y

WILLIAM DAZLEY. 

